Safety-indicator for elevators and traction-cars.



No. 829,864. PATBNTED AUG. 28. 1906 R. H. GAYLORD. SAFETY INDICATOR FOR ELEVATORS AND TRACTION CARS.

APPLIC ATION FILED SEPT. 29, 1905.

2 EHEETS--8HEET l I IE Z; a j [Z 21 1s 58 2/ N0- 829,864. PATENTED AUG. 28, 1906 R. H. GAYLORD.

SAFETY INDICATOR FOR ELEVATORS AND TRACTION CARS. APPLIOATION FILED sun. 2a. 1905.

firmnu. odd-HY A UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT H. GAYLORD, OF PASADENA, CALIFORNIAI SAFETY-INDICATOR FOR ELEVATORS AND TRACTION-CARS- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Au 28, 1906.

Application filed September 29, 1905. Serial No. 280.676.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, Bonner H. GAYLOBD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pasadena, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and useful Safety-Indicator i for Elevators or Traction-Cars, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to a device designed to secure a better cooperation or understanding between the operator of an elevator or car and the passen ers, whereby the assen gers will he warns from entering or caving ,a car when the car is moving or about to move. p

The main objects of the invention are to provide a device of the character described which is simple in construction, eiiective in operation, and durable in use.

A- careless or incom etent elevator operator is very apt when t e car is standing still to (jio gle the latch of the controlling-lever up an own, thereby rapidly unlocking the controllin leverintermittentlyand jeopardizing si e elevation of these ety of passengers who are getting into or out of the car, as, if the operator's arm should be jostled by a erson when entering or leaving the car while the operator was joggling the latch, it would be apt to shift the controlling-lever and start the car; and another object of the resent invention is to provide a signal whic will warn the passengers if the operator joggles the latch.

enthe invention is ap lied to an electric traction-car, the energy or operating the Bi 8.1 mav be derived irom the current w 'ch feeds the motors, and another object is to provide for causing the si nal to act in rmony with the operation 0 the car-controller, so that it will indicate "danger when the controller is on or slightly before being turned on, a further object being to cause the signal to operate when the controller is in oil position, provided the saris inmotion, thus causing the signal to be automatically displayed when the car is coasting, as will be hereinafter described.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention, and, referring thereto, Figure l is a vertical. sectional vi ow through an elevatorshaft, showing an elevator-cage equi ped with the invention. Fig. 2 is a side eliavation of the signallbox with the cover-plate removed. Fi 3 is a section through the si al-hox on line :2: x Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a the lower portion of the controlling lever and lock with the signalcontrolling switch shown in vertical section. F ig. 5 is a diagrammatical view showing-4 system of wiring the signal and its control,- lmg-switch. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of an electric car e uipped with the invention. Fig. 7 is an en arged view showingthe controller in front elevation,'the si al-controllin switch, which is operated y the contro ler, being shown in section. Fig. 8 is a diagrammatical view sho the system of wiring the signals, contro er-switch, and centrifugal circuit-closer. Fi 9 isan enlarged view showing in detail are centrifugal circuit-closer.

Referring to the form shown'in Figs. 1- to 5, inclusive, 1 designates the elevator-shaft, which is provided with landing-doors 2. 3 designates the elevator-ca, e, which is equipped with a controllin ever 4, operating over the sector 5. As s own in detail in Fig. 4, the sector 5 has a locking-notch 6, which is adapted to receive a locking-bolt or latch 7, carried on a rod 8, the rod 8 forming part of the latch mechanism, which is of the usual construction and [need not be further shown in detail. Ri 'dly mounted on the bolt 7 is a presser-bla e 9. Fastened to the sector 5 is a switch comprisin a tubular casing 10, in the up or end of whichis screwed a head 11, forms of insulating material, and passin through the head 11 are connections 12 an 13, having terminals 14 and 15, the latter comprising a spring member adapted to be ressed into contact with the terminal 14. lidably mounted in the tubular casing 10 is a head 15', which is carried on a stem 16, the latter extending through both ends oi the tubular casing. A coil-spring 17 within the casing 10 presses against the lower side of the head 15' and serves to normally force the head up, which latter presses the blade 15 into contact with the stationary terminal 14, thus closing the circuit through the switch. When, however, the bolt 7 lies. within the notch 6, the presser-hlade 9 moves down the rod 16 and moves the head 15 out of contact with the blade 15, thereby opening the circuit, as shown in Fig. 4. Mounted in front of the doorway of the elevatorcar in the upper part'ofthe cage is asignal-box l8. (Shown in detail in Figs. 2 and 3.) Journaled in the box 18 is a shaft 19, upon which is mounted a semaphore 20, the blade of which is hin ed to a stub-blade 21, there being a glair of iiat springs 22 on the stub -bla e w ich press against opposite sides of the semaphore-blade and servo to normally hold the some )llOlf. in line with the stub-blade 21, but which will wi l to allow the semaphore to swing out of therewith. Thus if the semaphore is in llgGl' position, as shown in dotted lines in i: l, and a person should happen to hit the --l-maphore in moving in or out of the cage 'lmsemaphore will yield and swing back ing injured. Mounted on the shaft 19 is an armature 23, and erran ed within the box 18' are pole-pieces 24, c windings 2.5 of which are connected in series, as shown.- In order to normally hold the semaphore in horizontal position, the arma an re 23 maycarry wei hts 26, while an exten- :dOil 27 of the stub-b ade 21 may also carry an adjustable weight 28, which latter may be slid back and forth on the extension 27, as derll'Qd, to regulate the balance. One of the POHIIBOtlODS 12 may be connected to a lead 32) from one of the pole-pieces, while the other connection 13 may be connected to the oad of the other po e-piece, as shown in Fig. 5. The current for operating may be btained conveniently, if desired, connecting the device in circuit with the lighting system in the ca e.

In operation when the elevator is running the lever 4 will stand at one side of the center of the sector, and the presser-blade 9 will .hus be out of contact with the rod 16, so that the latter will be in its Iupper position with the spring 17 holding the head 15 I a ainst the contact 15, and hue closing the circuit through the switch. The pole-pieces 24 thus being energized hold the armature horizontal, so that the some hore lies vertically, projecting straight own from the box 18 in danger position. When the elevator comes to a landing, the operator moves :he controlling-lever 4 into central position and allows the bolt 7 to enter the notch 6, hcreupon the resser-blade 9 forces down the rod l6,whic o ens the switch and breaks lhe circuit throng the pole-pieces 24, which allows the sema hore to be swung up, by

means of the weight 28, out of danger pos1-- lion, as shown in full lines in Figs. 1 and 2. When the semaphore is in horizontal posil-lon, it is not observed by the assengers, as it is hidden more or less, and t erefore the may freely enter or leave the cage. If w e the car is standing at the landing the operator should jo gle the hand mechanism to fig the bolt 7, it is obvious that the circuit will be quickly made and broken a great numlxr of es which will cause the same bore to dance or llutter back and forth, whic will warn the passen rs who are about 'to enter rleave the car t at the condition of the conimllor is not perfectly safe, and at the same ti me, by reason of this fluttering movement of -semaphore, theoperator will be much were apt to refrain from jogghng the latch mechanism than he would otherw se, and thus accidents are avoided, not only by reason of the warning given to the passen ers, but also by eausin the o erator of the e evator to be more care 1. l ust before the car starts the operator must raise the latch-bolt 7 in order to swin over the lever 4, and therefore when the late -b olt 7- is raised the some here will assume its danger position sli htly eforc the car takes any movement, an thus a further warning is afiorded passengers who might perchance attempt to enter or leave the cage at the time the operator intended to move the cage, and as this warnin is given slightly before the cage moves acci cuts are prevented. As in hydraulic elevators the notch 6 is made wide to allow a limited swin 'ng movement of the controllerwhen lock for cushioning, the presser-blade 9 is nmrde with wings long enou h to reach over the top of the rod 16, so t at it will hold the rod depressed when the bolt is in any part of the notch.

Referring to the form shownjnFigs. 6 to 9, inclusive, which represents theinvention as applied to a traction-car, the'sema bores: are constructed inthe same manneras, fore and one is arranged at each side entrance the car so that in cars of the ordinary t there will be two semaphores ateach end 0 the car. The switch for controlling the semaphoreljs shown in detail in Fig. 7 and comprises a box 40, which is very similar in construction to the switch described of the foregoing form. The box 40 contains asp'rirfil pressed pl or 41, having a stem 42, while ecover 43 of t e box has terminals 44and 45. 46 designates the car-controller lever, the movements of olplerated by a thum od 48, which extends t ough the handle 49. The latch lever 47 is extended somewhat beyond, its usual length and is provided with a stem 48' which is ads ted to bear the stem 42 and to hold t e plunger 41 epressed when the latch lever 47 IS in normal position holding the controlling lever 46 stationary. Before the motorman can move the controller he-press'es down the thumb-rod 48, which tilts-the latchlever 47 and unlocks the controller, and as the latch-lever 47 is thus tilted down its inner pressed up to close the circuit ough the terminals 44 and 45, which circuit is obviously broken when the latch-lever 47 is re- .turned to normal position by a spri 47 The si als sire connected, as shown in ig. 8, by a wire 50 with the terminals 44 of the conslightly before the car takes any movement.

and moves up and allows the plunfiir 41 to beytroller-switch, the other terminal 45 of the which are checked b' a pivoted latchqpd 47,

It is obvious that sometimes the motorinan will throw off his controller and allow the car to proceed under headway. Itis desirable at such times to maintain the semaphores in danger position, and therefore I have pro vided the centrifugal device shown in detail in Fish 9, in which 51 designates the car-axle, to W ieh is rigidly clamped a split ring :32 Pjvoted to the s )l it ring 52 is an arm 53, lbs free end of which carries a contact-roller 54.

flat spring 55, which is fastened to the split ring 52, is provided with a tensionadjusting thumbscrew 56, which bears against the arm 53 and serves to hold the contact-roller 54 against the split ring 52 when the axle 51 is not rotating.

57 is a shell or drum which is arranged concentric with the axle 51 and which may be supported by a bracket 58, which is attached to any convenient part of the car-frame. Fastened to the shell 57 is a riu of insulation 59, and mounted on the ring ov insulation 59 is a eontact-rin 60. When the car is in niotion, as the ax e 51 rotates the centrifugal force causes the roller 54 to swing out and make contact with the inner surface of the ring 60, and thus the circuit is closed between the ring 60 and ground. As shown in Fig. 8, a.wire 61 connects the rin 60 with the wire 50. Thus when the car is uncler headway, even though the controller has been shut, the circuit through the signals will be closed by means of the centrifugal device, and the signals will thus be maintained in danger position. When the car stops, the roller 54 will be sprung back outof contact with the rin 60, and thus the circuit will be broken, anrl the semaphores will re ain their normal horizontal position. It wi I be apparent that the si nals will swing into danger position slight y before the car moves, owing to the motorman having first to (la ress the thumb-bar to unlock the controller before he can move the controller, and thus assengers who may intend to get oil or on t. e car are Warned that the car is about to move.- It will be seen from the foregoing that the four semaphores must always be in danger position when the car is moving, that they will move out of danger position when the car stops, and that they will move into danger position slightly before the ear starts, thus allording the elemtor-cagc or ously, the signal may all the protcciich a signal is capable. in claims includes either a traction-car. Obvibe designedly operated at any time by the elevator operator or inotoriuan to indicate that the car is full by menipulating thelatch mechanism withoutmoving the controller. stops momentarily turned for thumb on the rod signals in danger gcrs from getting For instance, when a car while a switch it the i'notorinan ma r is being hold his 8, which wil place the position and warn passenon or off while the car is waiting for the switch to be thrown.

Vl hatl claim is-- 1. A car, a signal carried by the car, a controller for the car, latch mechanism for the controller, and means operated by the latch mechanism for contr 2. A car, a

olling the signal.

signal carried by the car, a controller for the car, latch mechanism carried by the controller for controlling the same, and

means operated by the latch mechanism for controlling the signal.

3. A troller for car, a signal carried. by the car, a eonthe ear, and means the controller for automatically coacting with operating the signal before the controller starts the ear.

4. A car, a signal carried thereby comprising a semaphore pivoted to swing in two different planes, a con means coacting with ating the semaphore.

ferent planes, a con car, a signal carried thereb ing a semaphore pivoted to swin ti-oller for the car, and the controller for opery comprisin two diftroller for t e car, and

means enacting with the controller for operating the semaphore A car, a signal carried latch mechanism for the troller for the car,

controller, and electric means operated by lane. y the car, a cornin one the latch mechanism for controlling the signal.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, at Les Aiigeles, California, this 22d day of September, 1905.

ROBERT H. GAYLORD.

In presence of- GEORGE 'I. H VERNA A. TA

Aoinisr, LBERT. 

